Massachusetts Pirates Defeat the Tulsa Drillers, 23-22

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Indoor football was on the schedule Saturday night at Tsongas Center as the Massachusetts Pirates (6-3) took on the Tulsa Oilers (3-7). Before the game, a special guest was on hand for the coin toss. It was Terrance Mann, who played high school basketball in the area and then went on to play college basketball at Florida State of the ACC. He is now in the NBA with the L.A. Clippers. Tulsa won the toss and deferred to the second half. The Pirates had the ball first to begin the game.

Before the opening kickoff, the Pirates had some roster moves, five in all with two on defense, two on offense, and one on special teams. On defense, the Pirates added DE Israel Antwine who spent time in the CFL, and DB Paris Ford played two seasons in the UFL with the New Jersey Generals. On offense, they added WR Tyler Hudson who spent time in the NFL with the L.A. Rams. This year he was in the camp of the Ottawa Redblacks of the CFL. They also added a placekicker in Calum Surther who played his college ball at Oklahoma. A quarterback has also joined the team and his name is Quincy Patterson who played at three different schools during his college career.

The Pirates opened the scoring on their first drive as QB Alejandro Bennifield took a snap in shotgun, ran around the left corner, and found the end zone from 7 yards out. The PAT was no good and it was 6-0 Pirates. Tulsa’s opening drive also scored points. The key play was a 28-yard pass and catch from QB Andre Sale to Jonathan Nance (4 catches 56 yards,1 TD). The drive finished with a 6-yard TD from Sale to Montero Dubose. The PAT was always no good and the game was tied at 6-6. Tulsa’s special teams gave them the lead by blocking a punt into the Pirates’ endzone for a safety, and the lead was 8-6 at the end of the quarter.

With 11:06 left in the second quarter, Tulsa extended their lead on a 2-yard run around the right end by Harvey Bennett. The extra point was good and Tulsa had a 14-6 lead. The Pirates struck again. Jimmy Robinson (14 carries, 56 yards,1 TD) scored from 3 yards out. The key play was a 15-yard compilation from Bennifield to Thomas Owens. The Pirates went for two and got it. Bennifield found Owens in the back of the endzone. With 3:52 left in the half the game was 15-14 Tulsa. After a missed FG by Tulsa that hit the jumbotron, the Pirates got the ball back at mid-field with a minute left in the half. The Pirates tried a 34-yard FG that was short and to the right. Then the Oilers tried a FG of their own and it was wide right. The first half ended with Tulsa leading 15-14. The Pirates outgained the Oilers in the first half by a 102-62 margin. They also ran more plays at 25-12.

The third-quarter kickoff was by the Pirates to the Oilers. They would take that kickoff and score as Sale hit Nance for a 17-yard TD pass to the left corner. The PAT was good and with 10:48 left in the quarter, Tulsa’s lead was now 22-14. The Pirates answered that score with one of their own. Pirates QB Bennifield (12-of-20, 92 yards, INT) from a yard out. After an exchange of penalties, the PAT by Surther was no good. Key pass plays were two catches by Owens (4 catches for 50 yards). one for 16 yards and another for 10 yards. Tulsa’s lead was now 22-20 with two minutes left in the third. The quarter ended with Tulsa trying to convert a fourth down.

Through third quarters, the Pirates were still outgaining the Oilers by a 146-91 count. The Pirates’ defense needed to step up and make a play. At the start of the fourth, they did just that stopping Tulsa on downs and giving the offense the ball back at midfield. The drive stalled, and the Pirates settled for a 24-yard FG by Surrher. The Pirates had the lead with 7:32 left at 23-22. Tulsa took the kickoff and drove down the field using up the clock. With a minute left, Tulsa went for a FG to take the lead back. Michael Hall’s kick from 24 yards out was no good. Massachusetts got the ball with 57 seconds left on the clock. Their drive would go nowhere and with 40 seconds left the Pirates had a 3rd and 3 to convert. The pass for Redding was incomplete. The Pirates were forced to try a long FG. The kick by Surther never had a chance, it was short and very left. Tulsa got the ball back at their own 20 with 35 seconds left. On the third play of the drive Sale (14-of-19 for 108 yards, 2 TD) was intercepted by Cyrus Fagan. The Pirates offense ran out the clock and won the game 23-22.